The Rebel League

Chapter 25- Final gambit

I straightened my back and glared at the King. "Ok, since you two seem to know each other, what the hell is going on?"

The old man turned his haunting eyes onto me. They burned into my sockets, like some sort of Medusa's gaze type of thing. I froze in place, not that I was planning to move in the first place.

"That, my dear boy, can be answered simply." He said. "My dear granddaughter and I will be leaving now. It is her destiny to be by my side, after all."

"Nonno..." Estella whispered. I couldn't imagine how she felt at the moment, with the news about her mum and now this. I mentally gave her an A+ for keeping it together. "How...?

"You'll understand everything soon enough, my dear." He said, extending a hand. "All you have to do, is join your family once more. Leave these thugs to do what they do best. Kill people, like your mother tried to kill me."

"Rude." I said to myself.

Estella shivered. From rage, sadness or temperature, I will never know. "You killed her. You killed my mother."

"Oh come now!" The King snapped, banging his staff on the ground. "She was an obstacle. A threat. To you and your-"

"Stop." Estella cut him off. "Just, stop." She took my hand. "My family is with my friends. What kind of father would hide such a secret from his daughter!? What kind of man would manipulate his son into doing something so horrible!?"

"Silence!" He yelled, his dark voice echoing throughout the factory. "You're coming with me! Anthony, call the guards."

Anthony moved towards one of the computers, but a green-feathered arrow embedded itself in the wall just beside his face.

"Not so fast." Joel said, stepping through the doorway. "If you want Estella, you'll have to go through us."

One by one, each member of the rebel league entered the room and faced the King. Ella and Briannon were among them, surprisingly, but I was too relieved to ask questions. Joel clipped another arrow to his bow and drew it back with a angry expression.

The King smiled creepily. "You're a brave bunch, I'll give you that. I must admit, I'm surprised to see that The Samurai were overwhelmed by only three members. In fact, one of them has even joined you, it seems."

His cold eyes found Briannon, who snarled back at him. "I told you he could read minds."

I gulped, hoping he hadn't picked up on all the romantic stuff I'd thought about his granddaughter. That'd be the end of me.

"Who cares if the guy has a few tricks." Thea said. "Let's take 'im!"

I took one look at Kira's whip tied around her wrist and doubted her chances.

"No!" Anthony stepped between Joel's arrow and the King. "You don't know what you're doing! We're not your enemies."

"Step aside." Joel ordered. "Or I shoot."

"Do as he says." The King said quietly.

Anthony reluctantly moved next to him, keeping his eyes locked on the arrow point. Estella and I joined our crew and faced down the two men.